March 2022 - Football Wiretap

NFL Cracking Down On Use Of Electronic Devices During Games

Dec 29, 2022 8:48 AM

The NFL has cracked down on the use of electronic devices during games this season.

According to sources, the league has imposed fines in 2022 for violation of the electronic device policy. In all, 12 teams and three players have been fined this year.

In a reminder sent to all teams on December 2, the NFL explained to all teams that it has "observed several electronic device policy violations this season."

The policy prohibits coaches and players from using, wearing, or having in their possession any electronic device (phone, Apple Watch, laptop, tablet, etc.) that is not league issued.

Mike Florio/Pro Football Talk

Tags: Misc Rumor

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Joe Burrow Set To Become All-Time Leader In Completion Percentage

Dec 29, 2022 8:43 AM

Joe Burrow will put his name in the NFL record books on Monday night.

Burrow will become the league's career leader in completion percentage as soon as he has enough career pass attempts to qualify.

To qualify for the career completion percentage record a player needs to have thrown 1,500 passes. Currently, the NFL's all-time leader in completion percentage is Drew Brees, with 67.69 percent.

Burrow's career percentage is 68.48 percent and he's thrown 1,488 passes.

Michael David Smith/Pro Football Talk

Tags: Cincinnati Bengals, Misc Rumor, Stats

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Laremy Tunsil Wants New Deal To 'Reset' Tackle Market

Dec 29, 2022 8:38 AM

Houston Texans left tackle Laremy Tunsil wants to be the highest-paid tackle in football.

"I don't know who's the highest right now, maybe Trent [Williams] at 23 [million], but I want to top that," Tunsil said. "Always want to reset the market. Perfect opportunity to reset the market. Everything is lining up as far as my contract to how I'm playing. Everything lining up perfectly."

Tunsil said he plans to renegotiate his deal in the offseason. He will be entering the final season of his three-year, $66 million extension that he signed in 2020. 

Williams became the highest-paid offensive lineman in NFL history -- at $23,010,000 per season -- after signing a six-year, $138.06 million deal with the San Francisco 49ers in March 2021.

D.J. Bien-Aime/ESPN

Tags: Houston Texans, Free Agent Rumor, Misc Rumor

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Aaron Rodgers Misses Practice With Knee Injury

Dec 29, 2022 8:33 AM

The Green Bay Packers held Aaron Rodgers out of practice on Wednesday with a left knee injury.

A few Miami Dolphins defenders landed on Rodgers in the second quarter of Sunday's game.

"I got a lot of body weight on my knee," Rodgers said. "Had some extra flexion I haven't known for the last 20 years. So just been doing rehab the last few days and feeling a lot better."

Rodgers said he expected to practice this week, possibly on Thursday, in advance of Sunday's must-win game against the Minnesota Vikings.

Rob Demovsky/ESPN

Tags: Green Bay Packers, Injury, Misc Rumor

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Russell Wilson: Wish I Played Better For Nathaniel Hackett

Dec 29, 2022 8:28 AM

Russell Wilson labeled his own disappointing season as a regret in the wake of Nathaniel Hackett's firing Monday as the Denver Broncos' head coach.

"The reality is I wish I could have played better for him, too," Wilson said. "I wish I could have played at the standard, the level that I've always played at, know how to play at."

Hackett was fired 15 games into his first season as Broncos coach with the team at 4-11 and with the lowest-scoring offense in the league at 15.5 points per game.

Wilson, in his first season with the team since the blockbuster trade to acquire him in March, has 12 touchdown passes in his 13 starts.

Jeff Legwold/ESPN

Tags: Denver Broncos, Misc Rumor

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Josh Norman Leaves Coffee Shop To Join Panthers

Dec 29, 2022 8:22 AM

Josh Norman was running his Atlanta coffee shop when Steve Wilks called the cornerback about signing with the Carolina Panthers on Sunday night.

Norman, 35, has been working on getting Omni Coffee & Eggs off the ground this year. Wilks called Norman, who he helped develop from a fifth-round pick in 2011 into a first-team All-Pro in 2015, when the Panthers lost Jaycee Horn to a broken wrist in Week 16.

Carolina will play the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Sunday with first place in the NFC South on the line.

Norman was signed to the practice squad Monday with the plan to elevate him to the 53-man roster.

"It truly was about charity and giving back to these kids and helping him out as much as we could," Norman said. "What I love about Wilks is he has that same mindset to want to give back.

"It's just truly an honor for us to be here."

David Newton/ESPN

Tags: Carolina Panthers, Misc Rumor

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Titans Rule Out Eight, Derrick Henry Doubtful For TNF

Dec 29, 2022 8:18 AM

Derrick Henry is doubtful for Thursday night's matchup between the Tennessee Titans and Dallas Cowboys.

The Titans have ruled out eight players already as the team's season will likely come down to a Week 18 battle with the Jacksonville Jaguars.

The Titans (7-8) and Jaguars (7-8) will play in the final week of the season with the AFC South division title at stake regardless of their Week 17 outcomes.

Grant Gordon/NFL

Tags: Tennessee Titans, Dallas Cowboys, Injury, Misc Rumor

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Derek Carr Steps Away From Raiders For Rest Of Season After Benching

Dec 28, 2022 6:12 PM

The Las Vegas Raiders will bench Derek Carr for the final two games of the season, giving Jarrett Stidham a chance to play. Carr will step away from the Raiders for the remainder of the season.

Stidham was a fourth round pick by the New England Patriots in 2019.

Carr had signed a three-year, $121.5 million contract extension in the spring, but he could be cut for a $5.625 million salary-cap hit if the move is made within three days of the Super Bowl. 

Carr could still remain with the Raiders in 2023.

McDaniels said there was no "finality" in the decision to shut down Carr.

"None of us is happy with where we're at, but we think it's an opportunity to evaluate a younger player who hasn't had much time to play," McDaniels said. "Derek was great. He understands the scenario that we're in and the situation and is very supportive of the two young guys. He'll do anything he can to help them."

Paul Gutierrez/ESPN

Tags: Las Vegas Raiders, Misc Rumor

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Titans Need Malik Willis To 'Continue To Progress'

Dec 28, 2022 9:00 AM

The Tennessee Titans believe Malik Willis has shown signs of improvement in each of his first three starts.

"I think just overall just comfort level, being quicker with progression, not holding in, not waiting things out," Mike Vrabel said.

"Knowing that you don't have all day. Being good operationally. I thought he made some good decisions, some really good decisions to pull, when to give it, extend. I thought when he was decisive, he was able to get to some guys. Unfortunately, Chig (Chigoziem Okonkwo) put the one on the ground and dropped it, but he got to (Robert Woods) and he got to Nick (Westbrook-Ikhine) on third and long and he was able to get to Woods in his zone. So, there were some things there that were good, but obviously just want to continue to progress."

Per NFL Research, Willis is the first rookie QB to throw for less than 100 yards in each of his first three career starts since Doug Williams in 1978.

Vrabel noted that the rookie's leadership is growing each week as he becomes more comfortable in the offense.

"I thought it was good last week," Vrabel said. "I thought he was into it. I thought he controlled the operation in practice and everything else that we were doing and in meetings and on the field and then ultimately up into the game. The leadership and everything that's, you know, whether it's Malik or anybody else, we've always tried to say that there's no restrictions on leadership. We just ask everybody to know what to do and go out and play a certain way and prepare a certain way. When you do that, you're more than welcome to lead anybody you want."

Kevin Patra/NFL

Tags: Tennessee Titans, Misc Rumor

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Andrew Whitworth: 'Never Say Never' About Unretiring To Join Bengals

Dec 28, 2022 8:56 AM

It may be possible that Andrew Whitworth would come out of retirement to join the Cincinnati Bengals.

"I've said this since the day I retired, I'll never say never," Whitworth said on The Season with Peter Schrager podcast. "There's always a chance."

The Bengals lost starting right tackle La'el Collins to a torn ACL on Saturday.

Whitworth won a Super Bowl with the Los Angeles Rams in his final season and he played 11 seasons with the Bengals.

Grant Gordon/NFL

Tags: Cincinnati Bengals, Free Agent Rumor, Misc Rumor

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Jim Irsay Reluctantly Extended Frank Reich Before 2021 Season

Indy Star

Broncos Still Believe In Russell Wilson, Say QB Is 'Fixable'

Jeff Legwold/ESPN

Commanders To Start Carson Wentz Against Browns

John Keim/ESPN

J.J. Watt Announces Retirement From NFL

Michael David Smith/ProFootballTalk

Raiders Haven't Dismissed Possibility Of Benching Derek Carr

Kevin Patra/NFL

Report: Mac Jones To Be Fined For Block On Eli Apple

Shanna McCarriston/CBS Sports

Mike White Cleared To Start For Jets In Week 17

Rich Cimini/ESPN

Tua Tagovailoa Back In Concussion Protocol

Marcel Louis-Jacques/ESPN

Brandon Staley: Playoff Berth 'Just The Beginning' For Chargers

Lindsey Thiry/ESPN

Tom Brady Will Take His Time Before Retiring Again

Mike Florio/ProFootballTalk

Broncos Fire Head Coach Nathaniel Hackett

ESPN

NFL Suspends Miles Austin One Year For Violating Gambling Policy

Adam Schefter, Rich Cimini/ESPN

Jack Conklin, Browns Agree To Four-Year, $60M Extension

Jake Trotter/ESPN

Elgton Jenkins, Packers Agree To Four-Year, $68M Extension

Rob Demovsky/ESPN

Report: Daniel Snyder Has Offers 'Well North' Of $7B For Commanders

Mike Ozanian/Forbes

Devin Funchess Mulling Basketball Career

Bally Sports

Seahawks Will Have Kenneth Walker Against Chiefs

Brady Henderson/ESPN

Bengals Clinch Playoff Berth With Jets' Loss

Grant Gordon/NFL

Robert Saleh: 'Haven't Seen The Last Of' Zach Wilson Despite Benching

Coral Smith/NFL

Google Buys 'Sunday Ticket' Rights On Seven-Year, $14B Deal

ESPN